Disclaimer: I don't own Les Miserables, either the book or the musical.
A/N: This is based on the song from the musical, and this is Monsieur Mabeuf's response to the chorus, just before his death.
Do you hear the people sing?
I don't hear the people singing. Heck, I don't even hear myself speak any more. How am I supposed to hear singing, of all things?
And these men don't look all that mad to me. Crazy, maybe, but not angry. These are all men that have nothing left to lose. All they have left are their lives. And those too will soon be taken from them.
And besides, aren't we all slaves? We all work for someone, whether we get paid or not. And sometimes we're slaves to things that aren't people. Some people are slaves to hunger. Or money. Or power. Or something like that. Me, I might have been a slave to knowledge. Who knows?
My heart's beating way too fast to be matching the drums. If my heart beat that slowly, I'm sure I'd be dead by now.
And life? Life? Don't speak to me of life. I have nothing left. Why do you think I came here? I don't have my books. I don't even have the money to buy myself a bit of bread. Even if we do manage to win here, what kind of life will await us?
Well, at least my death will mean something. It'll do something, perhaps boost the morale of the others. Maybe my death will give those who have something to live for the will to live for that thing.
And so I stand up, grab the fallen standard, and walk out into the night, knowing I will never return.
A/N: Still short, still based on the book, but at least it's not a poem this time! Feedback is still appreciated~
Oh, and for those who don't know it, here is the chorus this thing is based on.
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing the song of angry men
It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start when tomorrow comes.